Illegal Migrant Charged with Double Murder in Nassau County; Officials Blame Federal Immigration Policies

NASSAU COUNTY, New York – An illegal immigrant who entered the United States illegally has been arrested and charged with the brutal stabbing deaths of two women, as county officials used the case to sharply criticize federal immigration policies.

Rony Alvarenga, 22, of El Salvador, was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. According to Nassau County Police, Alvarenga allegedly killed both victims in separate incidents on April 30 and May 1, 2026.

Detective Lieutenant George Derenzo, commanding officer of homicide, detailed the crimes during a police briefing. The first murder occurred on April 30 at approximately 9:00 p.m. at 90 West Minnola Avenue in Valley Stream, where a 32-year-old female was found deceased inside the home. She and Alvarenga were roommates, sharing a house with common spaces.

The second murder took place on May 1 at approximately 12:30 a.m. at a Wendy’s restaurant located at 33 Austin Boulevard in North Long Beach. Police responded to a call about a person with a knife and found a 42-year-old female employee on the ground with blood. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Alvarenga was a co-worker of the victim at that Wendy’s.

The suspect came to police attention when he requested assistance at 169 Atlantic Avenue in Lindbrook. When officers arrived, Alvarenga said he had killed somebody that night. Homicide detectives responded and arrested him. Both victims died from multiple stab wounds to the neck and torso.

The 42-year-old victim is survived by two children in the United States, ages eight and one-and-a-half. The 32-year-old victim had no known children. Police said the suspect had no known gang affiliation, no prior arrest history, and no documented mental health history. They described the motive as “anger.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman addressed the media, expressing condolences to the victims’ families before launching a pointed critique of immigration policy.

“This is just an example of what happens when you have open borders,” Blakeman said. He stated that Alvarenga came to the United States in 2016 at age 12 as an unaccompanied minor, was released when apprehended, and was allowed to stay. In 2022, Blakeman said, the federal government automatically provided legal papers, “in the form, I believe, of a green card,” to unaccompanied minors.

“Here’s what’s wrong with that policy,” Blakeman continued. “First of all, why are we letting people that are undocumented into our country? Number two, why are we letting an unaccompanied minor into our country to run around basically without any supervision whatsoever?”

Blakeman defended Nassau County’s 287G program with ICE, noting that the county has removed over 2,000 illegal migrants with criminal records including attempted murder, rape, robbery, burglary, drug dealing, gang activity, and assault.

“I don’t know what the criminality would be here and throughout this region if those 2,000 individuals were still roaming around,” he said. “We cannot go back to the failed policies that have created this environment.”

Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder also attended the briefing. Alvarenga was charged with two counts of second-degree murder at First District Court. Officials said the case remains under investigation.